Research grants and PhD Studentships

Nanotechnology and Electronics Research Group

Current and recent research grants

  • Awan S. A. (Co-PI, Knowledge Base Lead), Hurst N. (Co-PI, CEO), Hall M. (Co-I, Operations Director), Jenkins D. (Co-I, Knowledge Base Supervisor) and Marshall D. (Knowledge Base Administrator), "Optimising the deposition and characterisation of optical thin-films", £188,011. Jan 2022 - 2024.
  • Awan S. A. (Co-PI), Peacock M. (Co-PI), King N., “Point of Care Medical Diagnostic Sensors for Cardiovascular Heart Disease”, Enterprise Solutions, R&D Solutions Fund, University of Plymouth, £20k, 2021-22.
  • Ussher S. (Co-PI), Awan S. A. (Co-PI), Davey P., Comber S., Birchill A. "Determining soil pH using a novel graphene based sensor", Seale-Hayne Education Trust, £10k, 2020-23.
  • Pan G, Jenkins D and Ambroze M, EU H2020-MSCA-ITN, AiPBAND, Grant number: 764281, An Integrated Platform for Developing Brain Cancer Diagnostic Techniques, €3,687,311 (€819,864 for Plymouth), 1/2018–12/2021.
  • Pan G, Davey P and Ifeachor E, EU H2020-MSCA-ITN, BBDiag, Grant number: 721281, Blood Biomarker-based Diagnostic Tools for Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease, €3,465,750 (€819,864 for Plymouth).
  • Jenkins, DFL and Pan, G 2018 Global Challenges Research Fund 'Portable device for multiplexed detection of water-borne pathogens and heavy metals using aptamer-conjugated functionalised nanomaterials' with IISc Bangalore. £80,000.
  • Jenkins, DFL 20118 IUKWC Safe and Sustainable Technologies and Strategies for Integrated Freshwater Resource Management, workshop to be held in Mysore, India 2019. £25,000.
  • Jenkins DF, Handy R and Awan SA, Nanomaterials Workshop, Newton Fund, British Council, August 2016, £24,000.
  • Awan SA and Charmet J, Synchrotron radiation characterisation of Alzheimer's protein biomarker Clusterin localised on Graphene (in collaboration with Warwick University). Diamond Light Source, £94,650, Oct 2019 - April 2020.
  • Towell C, Clarke R and Ifeachor E C. Artificial Intelligence in Live Music Mixing. Royal Commission Industrial Fellowship, £95,000 (2017 – 2021). (In collaboration with Allen & Heath).
  • Li Z, Person S and Ifeachor E. Breath-based Non-invasive Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease: A Pilot Study. BRACE charity, £52,120 (July 2017-June 2018) (In collaboration with Re:Cognition).
  • Ifeachor E C, Pan G, Awan S, Owen G and Doneddu D . Novel Point-of-Care Diagnostic Techniques for Dementia. EPSRC, £988,105 (Feb 2015 – Jan 2018) (in collaboration with University of Swansea and Prognomics).
  • Clinical Trials Methods in Neurodegenerative Diseases. National Institute of Health Research, £2 million, (2009-2014); Chief Investigator, Zajicek J; Co-investigator and Theme Leader for Surrogate Outcome Measures, Ifeachor EC (8-partner project, including Universities of Oxford, Imperial, Aberdeen, Queen Mary and Exeter).

PhD studentships

  • Awan S. A. (DoS), Bossing T., Gil-Ranedo J., M. Peacock, Mapps D., “3D Brain Tumour Treating Fields (3D-TTF) System”, PhD Studentship : Abigail Parsons, EPSRC DTP HMT, January 2022 - June 2025.
  • Drach V. (DoS), Rago A., Awan S. A., “Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Graphene-Protein interactions for Biomedical Diagnostic Sensors”, PhD Studentship: Maxwell Gisborne, EPSRC DTP HMT, October 2021 - March 2025.
  • Whitley T. (DoS), Awan S. A. and Davey P., 'Antennas and Multifunctional sensors based on Graphene and 2D Materials', PhD Studentship, University of Plymouth, Oct 2018 – September 2021.
  • Awan S. A. (DoS), Whitley T. and Davey P., 'Graphene and 2D Materials based Sensors for Early Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases', PhD (Self-funded), Oct 2018 – September 2021.
  • Jenkins D. J. (DoS), Handy R. and Awan S. A., 'Graphene filteration system' PhD Studentship, University of Plymouth, October 2017 – September 2020.
  • Awan S. A. (DoS), Ifeachor E. and Whitley T., 'RF Biomarker detection for Alzheimer’s Disease based on Graphene Sensors', PhD Studentship, University of Plymouth, April 2016 – March 2019.


PhD completion:

  • Haslam C. J., “DC and Impedance Sensors based on Graphene for the Early Detection of Alzheimer’s Protein Biomarkers”, March 2020.